If anyone ever earned their money!

This weekend saw the birthday of my lil Niece who turned 5......well to be truthful she has taken after her Mother (and the Queen) and whilst her Birthday was last Monday, has managed to spread one birthday over two weekends the first was with the in-laws who visited, and last weekend was the official party.

After gladly accepted the invitation.....well the whole family had......it was a trip down to Brize Norton to visit the Sister and co, with more pressies than seemed to be delivered at Chrimbo, and airbeds all round to crash in the living room. This seemed like a great idea before a very late, and only slightly drunken night out on Thursday night. At the moment weekends are a chance to lie in beyond 5.20am, although I hadn't really thought ahead, and which wasn't going to be exceeded too far when sleeping on a miniature bouncy castle in a house with a five year old, who was always going to be very excited given that presents were available.

My Sister and her hubby had booked out the families club and arranged for some entertainers. After spending most of Friday cutting cheese and ham sarnies into interesting shapes and frantic purchasing of party rings, hula-hoops and flapjacks these were distributed around the club, balloons inflated and banners put up. It was then that the entertainers arrived. I'm not sure if it was just me, but party entertainers when I was kid seemed to be either a magician who would do the rounds, or a clown who I remembered smelt very odd. The three young people, who looked like the cast of a children's TV programme turned up and swiftly installed two small inflatable bouncy 'things'......I thought that they were just castles.....or used to be in my day! a table for face painting, party games distributed and a magician's stand erected.

The finishing touches were just completed when the herd of tiny elephants turned up (well only about 25) and I take my hat off to the entertainment team. There were no tears, no tantrums, and no pressure. The kids were all kept entertained.......(when not eating ALL the pink wafers......not that I am at all disappointed!) I have to admit that I had been dreading the thought of being stuck in a hall with 25 five year olds running amok, but the whole day went fantastically.

So hats off and a huge round of applause to kid's party entertainers......oh and to all parents, who manage it on a day to day basis.  

Happy Valentine's Day

Wow, firstly I have to apologise for the paucity of recent posts. Somehow January and February has simply flown by and I have neglected you lovely people.

Secondly, and the subject of my post, Valentine's Day.

I really enjoy Valentine's Day, it is a time to spoil the person you are with, to share your time with them. I'm the first person to agree that it should not be for just one day a year, and some of the things that you can get are amazingly tacky (and overpriced.......how come a dozen roses will cost you about £10 on February 16 yet are £20 just two days earlier? Yeah yeah I know.................supply and demand oh and profiteering :) )

Whilst this year has been differentbut with my recent history, which I will not bore you with did make me realise how much pressure is put on you if you are single. I don't think for a minute that you need to be with someone just to be complete, although we are typically group animals, but everything is about being in a partnership or relationship. Every supermarket that you walked past was a wall of red, and fluffiness, and flowers immediately opposite the door, every card shop window was awash with more teddy bears than you could shake a stick at.......(can you shake a stick at a teddy bear? I suppose if they are Pooh sticks it would be appropriate......) oh and every mobile phone shop was advertising their pink phones especially for Valentine's Day.........(nothing says I love you like a brand new piece of plastic with multiple ring tones!) 

I pity anyone who forget about Valentine's Day......although I have to ask how they managed it. 

I really enjoy being with someone, and sharing with them, and the spirit of Valentine's Day (although as you can probably guess I can live without the pink and fluffy!) and I wish you all a very Happy, and slightly belated, Valentine's Day.

(sorry I forgot to get you a rose!)

I am (a) Kloot (convert)

When I was asked by a friend what I was doing this weekend, I really didn't have much to say ( I had hoped that I could get home on Friday night, have something to eat, maybe the first beer since New Year and then sleep through the weekend so that I would be ready for Monday morning.....well maybe go for another run if my legs will allow [see last blog] - what a lifestyle)

Instead they offered me a spare ticket to see a band that I had never heard of on Saturday night. Well after attempting to prevaricate I ended up saying that it would be great, and desperately searching the Internet for any links to their music. I know that I had heard of I am Kloot and that they had a fantastic reputation, but I really didn't want to admit my ignorance to my friend, my sister and her boyfriend, who were constantly talking about them.

I admit that I found one or two tracks online that I recognised, but was still not sure what to expect. I had been to The Duchess in York which is a great location, and to be honest, despite what I have said, I love watching live music, and don't mind what it is.

Arriving in York (always a great event for me anyway) we made our way through to the Duchess, where we had managed to miss the opening act, but the atmosphere was fantastic, and the surround music was great, and then at about 9:00pm I am Kloot arrived on stage...............and they were amazing! The Duchess is a small, intimate venue, and I'm sorry cos it sounds like I am gushing, but I don't know how to say how great the gig was. Being so intimate everyone was feet from the band, you could see everything.

And when the set was over, and queueing up to get the mandatory T-shirt I felt a hand on my back, and turning round found myself next to John Bramwell, the lead singer who was coming through to sign tour posters, CDs and tickets. It was very strange as he really isn't what you would expect of a lead singer in a band, but it just rounded off the evening perfectly.

And I think what I am trying to say is that the despite not being keen on going I would have really missed out if I had not gone! To be with great friends in a location with a great atmosphere and great music is the way to spend your free time!

Where did it go?

John Cleese (c) Independent.co.uk

I know that at the moment I am not the fittest person in the world, but I had no idea I was quite so unfit!

When I was at university it was normal for me to run 8 miles a day, and played rugby three times a week, so I was reasonably fit.

Walking round Manchester every day means that I still walk approximately 8 miles a day so I thought that I was at least reasonably fit. This year, rather than set myself resolutions (which I invariably break within a week or two), I decided that I would set myself some reasonably easy targets that I hope to maintain or achieve by the end of the year. This year I want to get fitter, loose a little bit of weight and to cut down smoking......(I know it's a filthy habit, but I genuinely am addicted to the nicotine, and whilst I want to quite completely I know that it will be difficult......I only smoke about 8 a day at the most anyway, but I would like to get it down!)

SOOOOO and the reason for this post......Saturday morning came round, and I had some books to drop off with a friend so I thought I would have a quick jog, to start my fitness regime. Having been out to my friends in the car, a couple of miles I thought, and I would be back before you knew it.......

......instead at 2 miles out, and just about half way there, my calves starting to seize up. But I was over half way there....can't be much further.....I thought. Unfortunately I had forgotten that once I got there and dropped off the books, I would have to jog back. Well after just under 8 miles, and an hour after I set out from home, I returned..............my calves locked solid. Not only did I warm up I had also warmed down.....or I thought I had.

So since Saturday I have been hobbling around, and stinking of muscle rub. Slowly I am getting movement back, but it really wasn't a professional look. I am told it looked something of a mix of John Cleese's funny walks and someone walking with a filled nappy (I am still not sure how they know what that would look like!)

Whilst I can live with the pain and discomfort, and am more than happy to be ridiculed (not a hugely uncommon thing!) I think the thing that upset me most was the fact that my friend was out so I still have the bloody books!

Goodbye 2010!

Well having had some time to reflect I thought I would have a look back over 2010. Well what can I say?.................................Poo!

Honestly it really hasn't been a great year. January last year started with a lot of anxiety......my Grandmother had just been diagnosed with recurrent gastric cancer, and the firm I worked for was spiralling down the toilet financially, and no-one seemed to know what would happen, or where we would be going. As it was mid January gave us the answer.....we were moving pretty much as a whole team to Manchester......just a lil bit of a shock!

Working through our notice period was a hugely strange experience. I'm pretty sure that most people have been through a notice period...............but when there are 10 of us, all in the same office, all leaving at the same time, and all leaving a boss who was something of a nut job. There were moments of hilarity, great stress, and unbelieveably surreal experiences, which if recounted would not be believed.

March saw the death of my Grandmother, and whilst it was a really sad occasion we were all around to say goodbye to her.


Goodbye flat



May was the start of the new job.........an upturn although a strange new place. Less than a fortnight into the job and the ex-GF developed a pulmonary embolism brought on by a DVT, in turn the result of a drunken accident on a night out. Okay so not a great impression to the new bosses, having to leave early to get to hospital for visiting hours, but ultimately she got better and work continued, as did our plans to move to Manchester.





Goodby Fred and Lilly



June was even less fun.........the ex-GF decided that things weren't working out and decided to quit our flat. June, July and August really passed in something of a depression (well probably not only something of a depression.....I don't think that I had been so hurt since my second fiance left me.....it's a really long story!!) But there were two islands of brightness in this period. One was a week in France, in complete tranquility, and the other was meeting you wonderful people and the start of this blog, which has been a real life saver, and allowed me to pour out some emotions without having to break the "Man's rules of manliness!"



Tranquility in the Summer

I must admit that the year has got better as it has progressed. I hope that the doom and gloom has cleared (and I again apologise for all my moaning!). The New Year was welcomed in with such love and friendliness around me that I hope that 2011 will be so much better.Whilst I will be the first to accept I am still not truely back to my fun loving best I know that I am on the road to recovery. I have my friends and family around me, and you wonderful people who listen to my complaints, concerns and random rantings. Work is crazy busy, and whilst the current commute is impossible to maintain the future is looking bright with the possibilty of a transfer to Leeds and I hope the opportunity to live in York (I accept that the aspirations are slightly less grand than that of Gem, with her wonderful dreams of Canada, but I must admit that I have developed slightly lower aspirations and dreams......there is less chance of those dreams being destroyed.)







Friends and family at a wonderful New Year! Thanks to you all

Hello 2011!

Firstly an apology for not being in touch with you wonderful people for a while but having bored you all before about my family's traditional Christmas programme, this year, the first since my Grandmother died, the family decided to get together at the folks house in France (again I apologise as I know I have bored you about this place......but it is amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!)

The plan was that on Christmas eve eve....okay the 23rd my Sister and I would travel down to Bordeaux from Hull, picking up her BF on the way, meeting up with my lil Sister, her husband and lil Niece on route somewhere in France to arrive at Barie early on Christmas eve.

So after the usual work routine.....up at 5 and on the train to Manchester and back it was time to drive about 986 miles South, not helped by what was supposed to be the worst winter weather "EVER" (it really wasn't that bad at all!) and airport closures causing a 3 hour delay on the Euro Tunnel (man that is the weirdest experience ever.....to sit in a stationary car, whilst feeling definite forward motion, and seeing your passenger get out and walk away from the car at what seems a huge speed!) But after 22 hours of continuous travelling, split between my Sister and I (well mainly me.....have to do the whole manly thing of taking control!) the family was pretty much all together, with friends from the neighbourhood. 

Christmas and New Year were fantastic, although strange without my Grandmother although we still tried to maintain our Christmas traditions. Getting up for stockings, followed by breakfast and then presents and it was fantastic to see the excitement in the Lil niece's eyes when she saw the soot boot prints by the chimney, the half eaten carrot and the piles of presents.

To commemorate my Grandmother and all that she meant to all of us, we set off Chinese lanterns on the stroke of midnight on New Year's eve, taking our wishes to her and to remind her that we were all thinking of her still.

If you get the chance you should try to get too.......oh and an unexpected visitor!

This is probably a bit of a long shot, but if you are up in either Newcastle or Gateshead there are currently two fantastic exhibitions at the Baltic Mill art gallery on the banks of the Tyne. 

A friend and I headed up to visit on Friday for the weekend, and no visit to Newcastle is complete without a visit to the Baltic Mill, so Saturday morning ish was the time decided upon.  

Just getting there is an adventure! From the city centre there is a long wander down to the quayside, well it is a long way down, and from there across the Millennium Bridge, a spectacular piece of architecture that spans the Tyne and ends just outside the Baltic.

At the moment the artists being displayed are Anselm Kiefer, Dan Holdsworth and Dirk Bell. Whilst I am not a hugely artistic person and I am a proper Yorkshireman......I know what I like (and I like what I bloody say!).  Dirk Bell is a German, who I have to say I had no idea what his art was trying to identify or symbolise, although Anselm Kiefer, a fellow German's pieces were really spectacular. I will not try and tell anyone what to enjoy or what the pictures were representing to me, but for me I really loved his pieces "Urd Werdande Skuld (The Norns) 1983",  "Man under a Pyramid 1996" and "Lilith 1987-9".

Not the Baltic but rather the Sage, but just loved the photograph.

The other artist whose work was fantastic is Dan Holdsworth's "Blackout" Collection, in which he displays slow processed photographs of glaciers, providing fantastic images of almost extra-terrestrial intensity. The Baltic is such that you can spend a couple of hours wandering around without melting your brain, but which can be real food for the soul.

I would also like to tell you about my surprise visitor........we were staying at a friend's house in Jesmond. After a night out on the quayside......a real experience! and several drinks in a bar that I was advised was owned by "Ant n Dec" we headed back to the house, to find a cat on the doorstep.Well at 3 a.m. with no-one around to let him in next door, he let himself into the communal hallway. Thinking nothing more of it, we got into the flat, headed to our rooms. This was until about 4 a.m. when this arrived on my chest....well the photograph was taken in the morning, but he was a very bonnie laddie, who ended up needling my chest all night ( I really couldn't be ar*ed to get up and let him out!)